Water Dispenser Cover

ABSTRACT

A water spout sanitary cover is provided. The cover is disposable and is configured to fit over a portion of the water spout to provide a sanitary layer. The cover may prevent microbial transfer between the spout, water, and a vessel being filled with water. The cover is disposable, and replaceable, and may be provided in a stacked dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sanitary covering devices forwater dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to adisposable spout cover that fits over or into a water dispensing spout.

2. Description of Related Art

Water spouts, such as public water dispensers, Poland Spring®, watercoolers, and the like are all venues for substantial bacterial, fungal,and other microbial growth. This microbial growth is caused by thepresence of water, and contaminants in the air and from the multiplecontacts of user's bodies, water vessels, and the like. As such, manyillnesses can be passed and fostered by these water spouts, and exposurethereto. For example, if a sick person drinks water from a vessel andthen refills the vessel from the water spout, upon a contact of thespout and vessel, it is likely that the sick person's germs will betransferred to the spout. After a while, in the moist,growth-encouraging environment of the spout, these germs will grow, andcan be easily transferred to any other water vessel or source of thewater from the spout.

Therefore, what is needed is a device that may efficiently andconveniently prevent microbial transmission from the water spout to thewater vessel of the user, and that may also prevent microbialtransmission from the water vessel to the water spout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases,interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem,and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.

In one aspect, a water dispenser spout cover assembly is provided. Theassembly comprises a water dispenser and a water spout cover. The waterdispenser comprises a body, a water source (such as a jug, or aplumbed-in connection, among others), and a water spout extending fromthe body, serving as a water outlet. A water spout cover is removablyattached to the water spout. This water cover is substantially conicallyshaped, having a wide opening on a first end, and tapering to a narroweropening on a second, opposite end. The wide opening and interior of thecover is configured to snugly fit over the water spout.

In another aspect, a water dispenser spout cover assembly is provided.The assembly comprises a water dispenser and a water spout cover. Thewater dispenser comprises a body, a water source (such as a jug, or aplumbed in connection, among others), and a water spout serving as awater outlet extending from the body. A water spout cover is removablyattached to the water spout. This water cover is substantially conicallyshaped, having a wide opening on a first end, and tapering to a narroweropening on a second, opposite end. The wide opening tapers inward sothat a portion of the cover is sized to snugly fit into an interior ofan opening the water spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the spout and its orientation andconnection to an embodiment of the spout cover is shown.

FIG. 2 provides another embodiment of the invention mounted on a waterdispenser.

FIG. 3 provides a view of the water spout covers in a stacked position.

FIG. 4 provides a view of another embodiment of the cover wherein aninterior of the cover comprises a flavoring for dilution into waterpoured through the spout.

FIG. 5 provides a still anther embodiment of the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and does not represent the only forms in which thepresent invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Generally, the present invention concerns a sanitary cover for a waterspout, such as a Poland Spring® or similar water dispenser having aspout out of which water is dispensed. The cover is configured toremovably attach to the spout such that a user may place it over thespout, fill their water container, and then remove the cover from thespout. In varying embodiments, the cover may fit into an interior of thespout, or may fit over an exterior of it. In further embodiments, thecover may further comprise a powdered or concentrated flavoring on itsinterior. As water passes through the cover, the flavoring will dissolveor be diluted and flavor the water.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanitary solutionto the often very unsanitary water dispensing spouts seen at gyms,offices, stores, and other public places. By providing a covering to thewater spouts, much of the microbe and pathogen transmission can beeliminated, thereby allowing people to be exposed to fewer dangerousdiseases and other undesirable substances. In an alternative embodiment,the cover may be attachable to a water container inlet, and may receivethe spout during filling, to be removed from the water container oncefilled.

In further embodiments, the covers may be provided in a stack of aplurality of nesting covers with one cover stacked into the next. Thisstack may be positioned on or adjacent to the water dispenser for easyaccess for users. In a particular embodiment, when stacked, the coversmay have a sanitary wrapping such as a protective paper, plastic orother material separating them from the others. In this embodiment, auser may be able to touch the protective paper/plastic to remove thecover from the stack, place it on the water spout, and then remove theprotective paper/plastic. This embodiment may provide additionalsanitary protection by keeping a user's hands off the cover.

The cover may be made of any material capable of being connected to awater spout and withstanding the flow of a quantity of water. Examplesof materials of which the cover may be made include, but are not limitedto: paper, plastic, metals, wood, films, composite materials, and thelike.

Turning now to FIG. 1 a perspective view of the spout and itsorientation and connection to an embodiment of the spout cover is shown.The spout cover 10 is roughly conically shaped, having a spout matingend 11 with a greater cross-sectional diameter than an opposite end.Generally, an interior surface of the spout cover 10 aligns with theshape of the spout 12, allowing the cover 10 to frictionally connect tothe spout 12. The spout 12 is connected to a water supply, and has alever 13 or other actuator to control a flow of the water through thespout 12, and potentially spout cover 10 when in place. In otherembodiments, different connections between the cover 10 and spout 12 maybe employed. For example, the cover may have an interior protruding ringconfigured to snap or otherwise mate over the spout 12 or a protrusionon the spout 12. In another embodiment, a tacky, high friction, and/oradhesive substance, may be disposed about an interior of the cover 10 tobetter secure the cover to the spout 12.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention mounted on a waterdispenser. The water dispenser 20 has a water jug 21 on its top whichprovides water flow. However, in other embodiments, the water dispenser20 may be directly connected to a water line that provides the waterflow. A cup dispenser 22 is on a side of the water dispenser 20.Further, a cover dispenser 23 is also accessible on a front of thedispenser 20. The cover dispenser 23 comprises a cylindrical case with astack of the covers 10 positioned therein, nested together one on top ofthe other. The cover dispenser 23 may have a tubular shape, and isconfigured to allow a user to remove one cover 10 at a time for use onthe water dispenser 20. At a front of the water dispenser 20 are twowater spouts 12, each controlled by a lever 13 or other actuator. Awater spout cover 10 is frictionally secured over the water spout 12,with its mating end 11 disposed over the outer surface of the spout 12.

FIG. 3 provides a view of the water spout covers in a stacked position.In this view, the water spout covers 10 are stacked with a narrow end ofone cover 10 fitting within the wider mating end 11 of another cover 10.Each cover 10 further comprises a sanitary wrapping 30 to prevent a userfrom dirtying the cover 10 when they use their hands to remove it fromthe stack and place it on a water spout. The sanitary wrapping 30 may beany material capable of preventing a transfer of microbes, dirt, oilsand other undesirable material. The sanitary wrapping 30 may be any thinmaterial capable of covering the cover 10. This wrapping 30 may also beeasily removable once the cover 10 is mounted on the spout. For example,the wrapping 30 may have perforations to allow it to be easily brokenaway, or may have a twist-off removal configuration, or may slip awayonce the cover is removed from the stack, among other options.

FIG. 4 provides a view of another embodiment of the cover wherein aninterior region defined by the cover comprises a flavoring for dilutioninto water poured through the spout. In this view, a flavoring powder 40is disposed within the interior of the spout where water will passthrough. In alternative embodiments, the flavoring may be a liquid, gel,or any other substance capable of delivering flavor to water poured overit. The cover has an optional membrane 41 formed of gelatin or otherwater soluble material. The membrane 41 may allow the water pouredthrough to have an additional residence time within the cover 10 toexpose it to the flavoring powder 40. In other embodiments, the membrane41 may also prevent the flavoring powder 40 from escaping. In stillother embodiments, the flavoring powder 40 may be configured to simplyfall out of the cover 10 when exposed to water, falling into thecontainer in which the water is being poured, for later dilution withinthe container.

FIG. 5 provides still anther embodiment of the cover 10. In thisembodiment, the cover 10 is configured to connect to the spout on itsinterior. As such a recessed portion 50 is sized to fit inside thespout. The cover extends outward 51 and then tapers inwardly to fitinside the spout. In a further embodiment, edges of the cover 10 mayextend upward at the outward extension 51, creating a channel betweenrecessed portion, and the edge of the cover 10. This channel may besized to frictionally receive the spout on its interior and exterior.

While several variations of the present invention have been illustratedby way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparentthat further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scopeof the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, itis to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptationsare within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and areinclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water dispenser spout cover assemblycomprising: a water dispenser comprising a body, a water source, and awater spout serving as a water outlet extending from the body; a waterspout cover removably attached to the water spout, the water spoutcover, having a wide opening on a first end, and a tapering portionwhich tapers inwardly to a narrow opening on a second opposite end, thewide opening having a greater cross sectional width than the narrowopening, the wide opening and tapering of the cover being sized tosnugly fit over the water spout.
 2. The water dispenser spout coverassembly of claim 1 further comprising: a cover dispenser attached tothe water dispenser body; and a plurality of stacked water spout coversremovable from the cover dispenser.
 3. The water dispenser spout coverassembly of claim 2 wherein the plurality of stacked water spout coversare removable from the dispenser one at a time.
 4. The water dispenserspout cover assembly of claim 3 further comprising a plurality ofwrappings, one wrapping about an exterior of each of the plurality ofcovers.
 5. The water dispenser spout cover assembly of claim 4 whereineach of the plurality of wrappings is removable from the one of theplurality of covers to which it is attached.
 6. The water dispenserspout cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the cover dispenser is a tubulardispenser.
 7. The water dispenser spout cover assembly of claim 1wherein the water spout cover is disposable.
 8. The water dispenserspout cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is frictionallysecured to the water spout.
 9. The water dispenser spout cover assemblyof claim 1 wherein a water soluble flavoring is positioned within aninterior of the cover.
 10. The water dispenser spout cover assembly ofclaim 9 wherein the water soluble flavoring is a powder.
 11. The waterdispenser spout cover assembly of claim 9 wherein the water solubleflavoring is a liquid.
 12. A method of using the water dispenser spoutcover assembly of claim 1 comprising the steps of: attaching the waterspout cover to the water spout; pouring water from the water spout intoa vessel; removing the water spout cover from the water spout; anddisposing of the water spout cover.
 13. A method of using the waterdispenser spout cover assembly of claim 2 comprising the steps of:removing one of the plurality of water spout covers from the dispenser;attaching the water spout cover to the water spout; pouring water fromthe water spout into a vessel; removing the water spout cover from thewater spout; and disposing of the water spout cover.
 14. A waterdispenser spout cover assembly comprising: a water dispenser comprisinga body, a water source, and a water spout serving as an outlet extendingfrom the body; a water spout cover removably attached to the waterspout, the water spout cover, having a wide opening on a first end and atapering portion which tapers inward to a narrow opening on a secondopposite end, the wide opening having a greater cross section than thenarrow opening, the wide opening and tapering of the cover being sizedto snugly fit into an opening the water spout.
 15. The water dispenserspout cover assembly of claim 14 further comprising: a cover dispenserattached to the water dispenser body; and a plurality of stacked waterspout covers removable from the cover dispenser.
 16. The water dispenserspout cover assembly of claim 15 wherein the plurality of stacked waterspout covers are removable from the dispenser one at a time.
 17. Thewater dispenser spout cover assembly of claim 16 further comprising aplurality of wrappings, one wrapping about an exterior of each of theplurality of covers.
 18. The water dispenser spout cover assembly ofclaim 17 wherein each of the plurality of wrappings is removable fromthe one of the plurality of covers to which it is attached.
 19. Thewater dispenser spout cover assembly of claim 14 wherein a water solubleflavoring is positioned within an interior of the cover.
 20. A method ofusing the water dispenser spout cover assembly of claim 15 comprisingthe steps of: removing one of the plurality of water spout covers fromthe dispenser; attaching the water spout cover to the water spout;pouring water from the water spout into a vessel; removing the waterspout cover from the water spout; and disposing of the water spoutcover.